Sept. 15, 2010

 Deanne Scanlon's Post-game Interview (9-15-10) |  Box Score

Allendale, Mich. - Grand Valley State earned a solid home victory on Wednesday night (Sept. 15) against West Michigan rival, Ferris State, as the Lakers knocked off the Bulldogs in four sets. GVSU won the first, third, and fourth sets (25-21, 21-25, 25-20, 25-22) to mark the 12th straight victory over Ferris State, as the Lakers now embark on a seven-match road trip starting on Friday night (Sept. 17).

With the win, the Lakers move to 3-4 on the year with a 2-1 record in the GLIAC, while FSU falls to 4-3 overall and 1-2 in conference play. In a match that saw 16 ties and neither set decided by more than five points, GVSU was able to pull out a big rivalry victory, as both teams were picked to tie for first place in the GLIAC North Division in the league's preseason poll.

GVSU started off well in the first set, taking an 8-3 advantage after consecutive kills from senior Krysta Kornack and sophomore Eno Umoh, both off passes from sophomore Olivia Kohler. The Lakers extended the lead to as many as seven points before Ferris State chipped away and cut the score to 22-21 late in the set. After a kill from senior Rebeccah Rapin, Grand Valley State forced the Bulldogs into back-to-back attack errors and closed the first set with a 25-21 win. The Lakers hit .343 in the set (13 kills, one error), while Kornack (four kills) and Rapin (three putaways) each did not commit an attack error.

The second set was a back-and-forth frame that was tied nine times. The last tie was at 13-13 before Ferris State pushed out to a 22-18 advantage. GVSU fought back with two kills from Rapin and one from freshman Stacey Catalano, but the Bulldogs were just a little too strong, recording their best offensive set (.270 attack percentage) and forcing the Lakers into nine hitting errors. FSU's Arielle Goodson was lights out in the second set, notching six kills in 11 attempts.

Things looked to continue in Ferris State's favor in the early goings of the third set, as the Bulldogs went up 4-0, including a pair of service aces. However, the Lakers battled back behind the serving of senior Leslie Curtis. GVSU put together an 8-0 run, which featured two kills and an ace from curtis, a kill from both Rapin and Catalano, and two Bulldog errors. Midway through the frame, the Lakers led 16-9, and although Ferris State would get within two points at 22-20, Grand Valley State would not falter. Kornack tallied a kill from senior Meghan Scanlon and FSU would notch a bad set and an attack error to give the Lakers a 25-20 win. Catalano played very well in the third set with five kills in seven attempts, three digs, a block assist, and an ace.

Ferris State led 6-3 early in the fourth before GVSU scored the next eight points, primarily on the strength of the Laker defense. Grand Valley State forced five Bulldog attack errors in the eight-point run, which swung the set back in the Lakers' favor. GVSU pushed the lead out to 21-13 on a solo rejection by Rapin on Goodson, but Ferris State would not go away. The Bulldogs cut the score to 23-21 before two FSU service errors eventually end the set at 25-22 and the match at 3-1.

For the match, Grand Valley State hit .260 with 51 kills, as FSU recorded more kills (55), but connected at just a .163 clip. The Lakers defense at the net was strong, blocking a total of nine shots, while Ferris State had just one total team block.

Rapin was terrific all night, playing nearly error-free volleyball for the four sets. She ended the night with 13 kills and only one error for a tremendous .545 hitting percentage, to go along with three blocks (two solo). Her running mate at the net was Kornack, who put away 12 kills and three blocks (one solo block). Catalano also played strong with a team-high 13 digs, 10 kills, a block assist, and an ace.

Leading the way in the blocking department was Umoh, who notched five block assists to go along with her five kills and .364 hitting percentage. Curtis picked up 12 digs and added eight kills, two service aces, and a block assist. Both Kohler and Scanlon dished out 23 assists, while freshman Sacha Gill notched 10 digs.

The Lakers begin their seven-match trip with a road contest at Northwood on Friday (Sept. 17). GVSU and the Timberwolves will do battle in Midland at 7:00 p.m.